At a glance
| Single-family permits, 2025 | 111,173 |
|---|---|
| Avg construction value | about $332,900 per home |
| Deposit escrow right | up to 10% (s. 501.1375) |
| HOA cancellation window | 3 days (s. 720.401) |
| Defect claim deadline | 7 years (s. 95.11) |
New construction in Florida: the short answer
Florida builds more new homes than any state except Texas. Buying one is different from buying a resale home in three ways that cost buyers money when they're missed: the builder writes the contract, the community often carries a CDD assessment and HOA dues on top of the price, and the first property tax bill can be far lower than every bill after it. Florida law gives you specific disclosures and protections for each of these, set out below with the statute behind each rule.
How much new construction is Florida building?
The Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey counts the homes local governments authorize each year. Florida's figures for the last two years:
| Florida building permits | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family homes (units) | 123,359 | 111,173 |
| Buildings with 5+ units (units) | 47,016 | 63,075 |
| Average construction value per single-family unit | $316,383 | $332,913 |
Fewer houses, more apartments
Single-family permits fell about 10% in 2025 while permits in larger apartment and condo buildings rose. Florida was still second only to Texas (140,579) for single-family homes. Fewer new houses in the pipeline means less competition for resale sellers, but builders with standing inventory are still offering incentives to move it.
Where new homes are being built
The Census Bureau's county data show where the single-family permits went in 2025. Lee County led with 9,962, followed by Manatee (7,014), Polk (6,725), Pasco (6,191), Marion (5,420) and Osceola (5,085). Hillsborough, Sarasota, Orange, Lake, Duval and St. Johns each permitted between about 3,500 and 4,300. In other words, most new houses are going up on the edges of the Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Southwest Florida metros rather than in their cores. Our local pages list active communities and builders: Winter Garden, Clermont, Tampa, Jacksonville, Cape Coral, Sarasota and Lakeland.
What does a new home cost in Florida?
What is the average cost to build a new home in Florida?
The Census Bureau's permit data put the average construction value of a new single-family home in Florida at about $332,900 in 2025 ($37.0 billion across 111,173 units). That is the builder's declared construction cost on the permit. It excludes the lot, and usually excludes site work, impact fees and the builder's margin, so the price a buyer pays for a finished home in a community is higher.
Is $200,000 enough to build a house?
Not on average in Florida. At about $332,900 of construction value per home, $200,000 would cover roughly 60% of a typical build before you buy land. A small, simple home on land you already own can come in lower, but get fixed-price bids from licensed contractors before you plan around it.
What are the cheapest new construction homes in Florida?
Builders don't publish statewide price floors, and prices change weekly. The lowest prices tend to be in the inland counties with the lowest resale values, such as Polk, Marion, Citrus and Highlands, and in townhome products near the big metros. D.R. Horton, the largest US builder by closings, reports a national price range of $250,000 to more than $1,000,000 in its 2025 annual report.
New construction homes under $200,000
They are rare. Even in the cheapest county, Calhoun, Zillow's typical resale value is $176,870, and new homes usually sell at a premium to older ones nearby. If that is your budget, look at manufactured homes on land you own and at small condos, and ask for the full cost, including any land lease or park fees.
Florida rules every new-home buyer should know
CDD disclosure in the contract (s. 190.048)
If the home is in a community development district, the first sale contract must include, just above the buyer's signature and in bold type larger than the rest of the contract, a statement that the CDD may levy taxes or assessments that pay for the construction, operation and maintenance of district facilities. Those charges are on top of county taxes. If you see that paragraph, ask for the annual amount and how many years of debt assessment remain.
CDD assessments on your tax bill (s. 190.021)
A CDD levies benefit special assessments to repay the bonds that financed roads, utilities and amenities, and can have them collected on the county tax bill in the same way as property taxes. That means the amount appears in your escrow and is enforced like a tax. Our CDD fees guide explains debt versus operations assessments.
HOA disclosure summary and 3-day cancellation (s. 720.401)
Before you sign, you must receive a disclosure summary saying you will be a member of the homeowners association, bound by recorded covenants and obliged to pay its assessments. If you don't get it before signing, you can cancel by written notice within 3 days of receiving it or before closing, whichever comes first. That right can't be waived.
Deposit escrow up to 10% (s. 501.1375)
A builder who sells 10 or more one- or two-family homes a year must tell you in the contract that you have the right to have deposits of up to 10% of the price held in escrow with a bank, attorney, broker or title company. The right can be waived in writing, and many builder contracts ask you to waive it. Read that page before you sign.
Property tax disclosure and the first-year bill (s. 689.261 and s. 192.042)
Every residential sale contract must warn you not to rely on the seller's current property taxes. That matters most for new homes, because property is valued as of January 1 and improvements that weren't substantially complete on that date get no value. If your home was finished during the year, your first bill may be for the lot alone, and the next one for the full house.
Radon notice (s. 404.056)
Every sale contract in Florida must carry a notice that radon gas has been found in Florida buildings at levels above guidelines and that testing information is available from your county health department. Testing a new home after closing is inexpensive peace of mind.
Limits on implied warranties (s. 553.835)
Since 2012 you cannot sue a builder on an implied warranty of fitness or habitability for offsite improvements, such as streets, drainage and utilities that don't directly support the home. You keep contract, tort and statutory claims. That puts more weight on the written warranty the builder gives you.
Notice before a defect lawsuit (s. 558.004)
Before filing a construction defect lawsuit, you must serve the builder with written notice describing each defect at least 60 days ahead (120 days for an association of more than 20 parcels). The builder then has a chance to inspect and offer to repair or pay. Aim to serve notice within 15 days of discovering the defect.
The 7-year deadline (s. 95.11)
Claims based on the design or construction of a home must be brought within 7 years of the certificate of occupancy or completion, even for latent defects. For a model home, the clock starts when the deed first transfers title. Warranty repairs don't extend it.
Worked example: the real monthly cost of a new home
Here is an illustrative $420,000 new home. The CDD and HOA amounts are assumptions for the example, not typical figures; use the real numbers from the community's disclosures.
Mortgage
With 20% down ($84,000) you borrow $336,000. At the 7.03% average 30-year rate in Freddie Mac's 24 September 2026 survey, principal and interest is about $2,242 a month.
Property tax, year one and year two
Say the home was finished in the spring, so on January 1 only the lot existed. If the lot's value was $80,000 and the area levies 18 mills, the first bill is $80,000 × 18 ÷ 1,000 = $1,440. The next year the whole home is assessed. After a $50,722 homestead exemption (the 2025 amount), taxable value is about $369,278, and the bill is roughly $6,647, or about $554 a month. A lender that sets your escrow from the first bill will raise your payment sharply in year two.
CDD and HOA
A $1,800 annual CDD assessment adds $150 a month, and $100 a month in HOA dues brings the community costs to $250.
The total
Before insurance, the steady-state monthly cost is about $3,046: $2,242 mortgage, $554 tax and $250 community fees. Add a homeowners quote on the specific home. That total, not the list price, is what to compare with a resale home.
Builder warranties
Most large builders use a tiered limited warranty. D.R. Horton and Taylor Morrison both describe a one-year warranty on workmanship and materials, two years on major systems such as plumbing, electrical and air conditioning, and ten years on structural defects in their 2025 annual reports. Pulte's current national warranty adds five years for certain water infiltration and leaks, and transfers to later owners within the coverage period. Lennar's annual report says it warrants homes against defective materials and workmanship for at least one year. Ask for the actual warranty booklet before you sign, and compare the structural definitions and exclusions. Our comparison of Lennar, D.R. Horton, Pulte and Taylor Morrison in Florida sets them side by side.
Steps and deadlines when you buy new
- Before you visit a model: decide whether you want your own agent. Check the builder's agent registration policy, because some require your agent to be named at your first visit.
- Before signing: get the HOA disclosure summary, the CDD disclosure and assessment amounts, the warranty booklet and the deposit terms.
- At contract: decide whether to keep your right to escrow deposits of up to 10%.
- During the build: book independent pre-drywall and final inspections; see our Florida home inspection checklist.
- At the walk-through: list every defect in writing before closing.
- After closing: file for homestead with the property appraiser by March 1 of the following year.
- Before month 11: book an inspection and submit warranty requests before the one-year coverage ends.
Common mistakes
- Budgeting from the first tax bill, which may cover only the lot.
- Leaving out the CDD assessment when comparing a new home with a resale home.
- Waiving deposit escrow without reading what happens to your deposit if the builder can't finish.
- Skipping an independent inspection because the home is new and has a warranty.
- Taking the builder's lender incentive without comparing the total cost with an outside lender.
- Missing the one-year warranty window for cosmetic and workmanship items.
Common questions
What is the average cost to build a new home in Florida?+
Census Bureau permit data put the average construction value of a new single-family home in Florida at about $332,900 in 2025, based on $37.0 billion of permits for 111,173 homes. That covers construction only. Land, site work, impact fees and the builder's margin come on top, so finished-home prices are higher.
What is a CDD fee in Florida?+
A community development district is a special government district, created under Chapter 190 of the Florida Statutes, that finances roads, utilities and amenities in a new community. It repays that debt and funds maintenance through assessments, which can be collected on the county property tax bill. The first sale contract must disclose it in bold type.
Do I need a real estate agent to buy a new construction home in Florida?+
No, but it often helps. The builder's sales team represents the builder. Your own agent can compare the price and incentives with resale homes and other communities and help with inspections and the walk-through. Ask who pays the agent, and check whether the builder requires your agent to be registered at your first visit.
Is my deposit on a new home protected in Florida?+
Under section 501.1375 of the Florida Statutes, builders who sell 10 or more homes a year must tell you that you can have deposits of up to 10% of the price held in escrow by a bank, attorney, licensed broker or title company. You can waive that right in writing, so check the contract before you sign.
How long is a builder's warranty in Florida?+
There is no single statutory warranty. Large builders typically offer one year on workmanship, two years on major systems and ten years on structure, according to D.R. Horton's and Taylor Morrison's 2025 annual reports; Pulte adds five years for certain leaks. Construction defect lawsuits must generally be filed within 7 years of the certificate of occupancy.
Should I get an inspection on a new build in Florida?+
Yes. A new home can still have framing, roofing, drainage or mechanical defects, and a written report gives you leverage before closing and during the warranty year. Many buyers book a pre-drywall inspection during construction, a final inspection before the walk-through and another before the one-year warranty ends.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: Building Permits Survey, annual state data 2025
- U.S. Census Bureau: Building Permits Survey, annual county data 2025
- U.S. Census Bureau: Building Permits Survey, annual state data 2024
- Freddie Mac: Primary Mortgage Market Survey, 24 September 2026
- Zillow Research: Home Value Index (ZHVI) data, August 2026
- Florida Statutes s. 190.048: Sale of real estate within a district; required disclosure
- Florida Statutes s. 190.021: Taxes; non-ad valorem assessments (CDD)
- Florida Statutes s. 720.401: HOA disclosure summary; contract cancellation
- Florida Statutes s. 501.1375: Deposits for purchase of residential dwelling units; escrow
- Florida Statutes s. 689.261: Disclosure of ad valorem taxes to prospective purchaser
- Florida Statutes s. 192.042: Date of assessment
- Florida Statutes s. 404.056: Radon notification on real estate documents
- Florida Statutes s. 553.835: Implied warranties
- Florida Statutes s. 558.004: Notice and opportunity to repair
- Florida Statutes s. 95.11: Limitations other than for the recovery of real property
- D.R. Horton: Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (warranty, product range)
- Taylor Morrison: Form 10-K for 2025 (warranty)
- Pulte Homes: 10-year limited warranty
- Lennar: Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (warranty)